My 4 year old daughter is totally ready for school. She asks me all the time when she will have a new school to go to (she hasn't been in daycare for almost a year, where she was in a preschool program).
Her birthday is September 18th 2005. That puts us in an unfortunate situation for her entering school. I wanted to know what I can do to ensure that she can in fact start school like she and I both want her to, this fall.
I don't know if it varies by state or not, but just in case--We live in Gresham, Oregon.
You need to contact you school district right away. You will have early enrollment applications and possibly tests to submit. The early enrollment will have to be approved by your school principle. You should start this process now if you want her in this fall.
Please, please, please put her in a preschool or pre-K program. I am an elementary school teacher and a mom of 3. I could literally write a paper on why early entry is wrong.
The short answer is that this decision isn't just about next year or even the next few years This decision is life long. Do you really want your 13 year old going off to high school with 19 year olds?That's what it will be.
I can go into the social issues that will develop in later elementary years,the issues that could arise from always being smaller and less developed than everyone in the class... There is just so much.
Wouldn't you rather she grew up thinking of herself as a leader, with self-confidence and wisdom?
One final point and then I'll get off my soap box. (You obviously hit a nerve with me.) No one cares when you are 35 when you started kindergarten. People look for others who are self-confident, hard-working, intelligent, kind, and positive.Keep your eye on the final result, a great human being.
Talk to your school district office before June and ask for an exception. You will have to meet with your school's principal and have some testing done. Otherwise, you can enter her in a licensed private kindergarten that will allow her early admittance.
I agree with everyone saying "contact the school". And as far as whether or not you should, that's really up to you. You know your daughter best. My son has a July birthday and was not ready at 5 to start Kindergarten, so we waited a year and he was newly 6. However, I have a friend whose daughter has a Sept. 2nd birthday (yes, misses the deadline by 1 day!). Her now 4-yr-old is already reading and writing and is very social. She has decided to homeschool and of course her daughter's age wasn't the reason, but she always mentions that she can't imagine waiting another year when her daughter is clearly ready now. So clearly every child is different.
